Kuwait: Kuwaiti women hopeful of an entry into Parliament

Kuwait Times
Published Date: April 20, 2009

KUWAIT: Kuwaiti youngsters can pick their representatives from among many since preparations are in full swing for the upcoming parliamentary polls. They mostly share the mutual desire to see women win parliamentary seats due to their wish to reverse the usually volatile political situation in the country. They believe that the presence of Kuwaiti women in the Parliament will be in everybody's interest. Maha Al-Anjari said that she would vote for women, who she said, are the most competent to feel for her concerns and deliver her requests. She also said that she would not favor those candidates who belong to political parties or factions. Hamad Al-Ali said he would cast his vote to the candidate who is really able to represent him regardless of gender. Pessimistic about the political situation in the country that is characterized by tribalism and sectarianism, he said that he would prefer to vote for women in the hope of bringing about political change. Fatima Al-Husseini said that candidates' educational certificates, ideology and political orientation are key to choosing his favorite. Khalid Al-Zawawi vowed to elect only nationalists, male or female. He called for giving women the opportunity to do something new and different on the local political arena, while hoping that they would achieve what men fail to. Ghassan Al-Waqian said that he would support those candidates who are keen about safeguarding civil liberty. He said that he was enthusiastic about women gain access to the Parliament.

Cabinet restricts candidates

Officials said the Cabinet will discuss several issues, such as banning citizens who hold a second nationality from serving in the next Parliament. The Cabinet session will be preceded by a meeting of the Cabinet's legal committee to discuss suggestions prohibiting nationals with another citizenship to run for the National Assembly; in addition, those individuals will be asked to give up one of the nationalities that they hold. Officials said candidates who do not respond to these requests will not be allowed to nominate themselves. The committee said it will prepare a detailed report that will be submitted by Minister of Interior Sheikh Jaber Al-Khalid Al-Sabah to the Cabinet before a final decisions about the issue is made. Meanwhile, an official source said he expected that the Cabinet will either activate the current law that bans citizens from holding two nationalities or the Cabinet will adopt a bylaw to prohibit any person who has two nationalities from being nominated.

Buramiya, Al-Tahous may be nominated

The arrests of former MP Daifallah Buramiya and Khalid Al-Tahous by the State Security Department and their subsequent referral to the Public Prosecution Department will not affect their political future as they will be nominated as candidates for upcoming parliamentary elections, said Dr. Abaid Al-Wasmi, a law professor at Kuwait University. He said that even though the two men are being kept under custody, they will be allowed to authorize someone to submit nomination on their behalf to the election department at the Ministry of Interior, reported Al-Watan. The professor went on to say that that the law forbids authorization voting. However, it does not ban authorizations that are made to complete nomination procedures. Meanwhile, the Public Prosecution Office has begun interrogating Buramiya yesterday.

NA dissolution engineered

Unprincipled socially prominent figures have helped engineer the recent crisis between the National Assembly(NA) and the government, with their aim of dissolving the National Assembly, remarked Mohammad Al-Obaid, a former MP and candidate from the fifth constituency. He pointed out HH the Amir's wise decisions nipped their plans in the bud. Kuwait and the Kuwaiti people have been the only losers in the long run, he said. During a dinner banquet held at his residence, he blamed the government for stalling the country's development plans by refusing to cooperate with the National Assembly. The former lawmaker also felt that no clear-cut programs have been charted out to develop public services in the country. Al-Obaid stated that MPs have the right to inform any minister about their ministries' shortcomings. In case the minister does not respond with a suitable reply, the MP has the right to grill the minister. He asked next premier to appoint qualified ministers who will help contribute toward developing public services. He urged HH the Amir to intervene and grant pardon to candidate Khalid Al-Tahous.